Conductor switching system



July. 18, 1950 .R. P. HANNA CONDUCTOR SWITCHING SYSTEM Filed 001;. 12, 1945 fjgf 3.

WITNESSES:

QU-JJW INVENTOR Faymanc/ P/f/an/n Patented July 18, 1950 acme CONDUCTOR SWITCHING SYSTEM Raymond P. Hanna, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric. Corporation, East Pittsburgh,' Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 12, 1945, Serial No; 622,049

My inventionrelates,'.genera1ly,tocontrol sys to provide a trolleyqfrog control systemwhich is simple and inexpensive to manufactureand is reliable and efficient-in operation. i

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to: provide for" presetting an electricfrog at an intersectionof' the through and branch? conduce tors to the direction ,of principal: travel as the vehicle approaches the intersection, and to provide for selectively operating the frog to the direction of minimum travel when deSiI'ed.' a 1 It is also an object of my invention toprovide for .preselecting the principal route at. an intersection in a trolley conductor system as; a vehicle approaches the intersection without requiring the operator of the vehicle to perform any operation: Yetanother object of my invention is to provide for automatically selecting the principal route as the vehicle approaches an intersection cand then selecting the minorrroute, if desired,uwithout requiring interruption of the power supply of the vehicle.:-- A 1 An important object-of my invention to provide for-so presetting an electric frog to a-pre-j" determined position as a vehicle approaches an intersection'as to" reduce "the number of opera-- tions of the trolley frog. Other objects will, in part; be obvious 'and .will, in part, be explained hereinafter."

In practicing my invention in one of its forms, a contact dvice' i provided adjacent one ofthe' through conductors in advance of an intersection between pairs of through and branch conductors to provide for energizing theoperating winding ofa pair of trolley frogs at the intersection topperate the frogs for guiding the*current 'collectors of a vehicle along theprincipal 'route of travel. A pair of contactdevicesisprovidedintermediate the aforesaid contact device and-the intersection for: engaging the current collectors of the "vehicle for'selecting the minor ro'uteyo'nly if the current collectors are disposed in a predetermined lon gitudinal relation indicating that the vehiele is turned in the direction of the minorroute. For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects'of my invention; reference may be made to the following detailed description which may be'studiedin connection with the companying drawing, inwhichz'" P a Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a trolley conductor control system arranged forpreselectingthe through conductors as the p p l path;

4 Claimsj (crim -.35)

,Fig. 2 is a partialdiagrammatic view of a trolley conductor control system similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but arranged with-the branch con ductors onthe other side of the throu h cone ductors; I. v I v Fig. 3 is :a diagrammatic view 'of atrolley conductor control system-arrangedfor selecting the branch conductors as the principal route; and Figr 4 is a partial diagrammatic view:oha trolley conductor control system similar tothat shownin Fig. 3 but with the branchconductors on the other side of the through conductors, Referring to Fig. 1, the reference numerals lll and II may denote, generally,- a pair of through conductors in a trolley conductor system which maybe associated with branch conductors L2 and i3, respectively. A pair of trolley frogs l5 and. I6 may be provided at the intersection for selectively determining the routes or paths ofthe currentcollectors ofavehicle along the conductors.

The trolley frogs l5 and limay comprisezmovable tongues'lt and is operatively connectedto armatures and 2| .which may be actuated in the direction of the through or'branch 'con'd'uc-v tors. by operating windings 23, 24 and*25,-26;- respectively. Each of the trolley frogs mayflbe provided with locking'means for retaining' the tonguesthereof in the operated" p'ositionsmFor' example, lock windings 28 and may'bepro vid'ed for operating armatures 30 and 3| r'espec tively; which interfere with projections Hand 34 to retain the armatures in the-positions to'whic'h' they may be operated. Switch means comprising movable contact members 152)" and IBbmaybe provided inconn'ection'with the trolley frogs for providing operating "circuits for" the operating windings 23 and 24 'whenever the'tongues l8 and H! are operated in the directionof the branch conductors" and I3:

" In order'to'provide for 'preselectin'g a path along the through conductors whichniay'd thi in;

45, section 'for engagement bya current collector (not shown) traversing thisconductorl] {The contact l9 of thetrolley frogs are in alignment: with the through conductors.-, i

'Additional contact devices 39 and 40 be: ediace t h .con u t s; d ,.l ;sen

spectively, and in skewed relation with the contact device 31. The contact device adjacent the through conductor on the side on which the branch conductors are located, in this case the contact device 33, is positioned in advance longitudinally of the contact device 40. These additional contact devices 39 and 40 maynthus be connected in series circuit relation with the operating windings 25 and 26 and the lock windings 28 and 29 to provide for energizing these windings only when a vehicle approaching the intersection is positioned for making the turn in the direction of the branchconductors, where-,

by its current collectors will be alsoskewed so as to simultaneously engage the skewed contact devices 33 and 40.

With the tongues l8 and [9 of the trolley frogs in the position as shown, nothing happens when a current collector of a passing vehicle engages the contact device 31, since the circuit through the operating windings 23 and 24 is interrupted by the contact members 151) and I6!) which are in the open position! If the vehicle is to proceedalong the through conductors i and I I, it will he nor mally headed in that direction and its current collectors will be substantially opposite each-other as they'pass the contact devices 3'3-and 40. Since these contact devices' 'are skewed, they are engaged by the'current collectors at different times and no circuit is provided between them,so'that the tongues I8 and I9 remainin the direction of the through conductors.

Should the operator desire to select the minor route and turn in the direction of the branch conductors l2 and 13, it-is merely necessary to steer the vehicle in the direction of the branch conductorsas it approaches the intersection. With the tongues I8 and IS! in the position shown, nothing happensa's the current collectors traverse the contact device 31. However, when the current collectors, which will be also skewed due to the angular relation of the vehicle relative to the through conductors, engage the contact devices 39 and" substantially simultaneously, an energizing circuit is provided for the operating windings 25 .and 2B. This circuit extends frdin the contact device 39, which is connected to the conductor I!) by itsassociated current collector, through conductor 42, operating winding 26, conductor 43, operating winding 25, conductor '44, lock winding 28, conductor-46,1001: winding 29, and conductor 4! to the contact'device 40, which is connected to the conductor I l byits associated current collector. Accordingly, the tongues l8 and I9 will be actuated to theaposition shown in dotted outline for directing the current collectors of the vehicle along the branch conductors l2 and I3.

When the currentscollector of the next vehicle approaching the intersection-engages the contact device 3",an energizingcircuit is provided for the operating windings" 23 and: 24 to return the tongues l8- and: ['9 tea position in alignment with the through conductors. This circuit extends from the conductor Iii-through contact device3i, conductor 43-, operating winding 2.4, conductor 50-, operating winding 23, conductor 44, lock wind ing 28, conductor 43, 'lockwinding 23, conductor 51", contact ,member b, conductor 52, contact member 15b to the through conductor I I. Should the vehicle be proceeding in the direction of the through conductors, no further operation is nec= pss'ary. If the vehicle is-turned in the direction or 'the branch conductors, the tongues l8 an d [9 will lie-actuated in the direction of the branch coimua qgs' when 'the trident collectors or the" 4 vehicle engage the contact devices 39 and as described hereinbefore.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the branch conductors I21; and [3a are on the opposite side of the through conductors I0 and H from that shown in Fig. 1. Accordingly, the operating windings 23 and 24 may be connected to the contact devices 33 and 40 by means of conductors 42 and 41 instead of being connected to the contact device 31 for effecting preselection as was the case in connection with the system of Fig. 1. The operating windings 25 and 26 may instead be connected in series circuit relation with the contact members [5b and lBb and the contact device 31 through conductor 49. The lock windings 28 and 29 are connected in series relation with the operating windings in each instance in the manner shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that with the tongues IB and I9 in alignment with the through conductors Ill and II, the contact members I51) and 16b again are time open circuit position. i It will be apparent that since the contact devices-39 and '40 must be skewed so as to provide for simultaneous engagement with the current cclle'c't'oisoi a vehicle which is turning in the 'di recticn dfthe branch conductors, the longitudinal positioning of the current collectors '33 and '40, which are not shown in Fig. 2, must be reversed, so that eontactdevic'e 40 which is adjacent the through conductor 1 i is positioned in advance of the contact device 39,.slnce the contact device which is'o'n the side to which the branch conductorsdiverge must always be in advance of the other contact device. In other respects the system of Fig. 2 i'sthe same as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 3, the reference numerals l5 and" I 6 may again designate trolley frogs positioned at the intersection of through conductors I0, I" I and branch'conductors l2 and'l3. In order to provide for normally directing the current collectors "ofa vehicle in the direction of the branch conductors which are, in this case, considered as the principal path, the operating windings 25 and 26 may be connected in series circuit relation with the lock windings 28 and 29 and connected by meansof conductor 49 to the contact device 31. The contact members I51) and [6b of the trolley frog switch means may be disposed inthis instance to provide an operating circuit for the operating windings 25 and '26 whenever the tongues l8 and IQ of the trolley frogs are positioned in the direction of the through conductors.- Thecontac't devices 39 and 43 may be positioned in substantially the same relative longitudinal positions-adjacent their respective conductors for substantially simultaneous engagement between current'collectors of a vehicle which is positioned for proceeding in the "direction of the through conductors. By connecting the contact devices 39 and 40 inv series circuit relation with the operating windings 23 and 24, the tongues Hand l 3 may be selectively operated 'to through position when the contact devices 33 and '40 aresimultaneously engaged by the current collectors ofa vehicle.

With the tongues 18 and I 9 in the position shown, nothing happens when the current collector of a vehicle engages the contact device 31 since the energizing circuit for the operating windings 25 and 26 is open at contact members l5band lBb. Should the vehicle be turning in the direction of the branch conductors l2 and 13, its current collectors will be skewed, and accordingly no'circuit will be provided for the operating windings 23 and :4 when the current collectors if pass the contact evices 39 and 4 0.'Th'e"fvhicle thus readily passes through the intersection in the direction or the branch 'condiicto'r'sl' Should the vehicleb'e positioned for proceeding along the'through conductorsgits current collectors will be in substantially the same relative longitudinal positions. Accordingly, as the current collectors pass the contact devices 39 and 40, an energizing circuit will be'provided for the conductor i9, through contact device-39', conductor 42, operatingwinding- 24 ,;conductor 50, operating winding 23, lock winding 28, conductor 46, lock winding 29, conductor 41, to contact device 40, and conductor H. Accordinglyrflthe tongues l8.and l9 are moved into alignme'ntwith the throughconductors I and H.

When the current collector 6 vehicle engages the contact device 31, an energizing circuit is provided for the operating windings 25 and 2B of the trolley frogs. This circuit extends from conductor l0, through contact device 31, conductor 49, operating winding 26, conductor 43, operating winding 25, conductor 44, lock winding 28, conductor 46, lock winding 29, conductor 5i, contact member I517, conductor 52, contact member [6b to through conductor H. The tongues l8 and H! are, accordingly, actuated in the direction of the principal path in alignment with the branch conductors I2 and 13. If the vehicle isproceeding in the direction of the branch conductors, no further operations take place and if it is proceeding in the direction of the through conductors, the tongues 18 and I9 are subsequently operated in the manner hereinbefore described into alignment with the through conductors l0 and H.

Referring to Fig. 4, the reference numerals l5 and I6 designate as hereinbefore trolley frogs at an intersection between through conductors H), H and branch conductors [2a and I312. The branch conductors i211 and [3a, it will be noted, are on the opposite sides of the through conductors from those shown in Fig. 3. In most respects, the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, is similar to that shown in Fig. 3 except for the different connections of the operating windings 23, 24, and 25, 26 which are necessary to provide for operating the tongues B and I9 to the desired positions.

Accordingly, the operating windings 23 and 24 may be connected by the conductor 49 to the contact device 31 (not shown) for preselecting the position of the tongues i8 and I9 in alignment with the branch conductors l2a and l3a respectively. The operating windings 25 and 26 may be connected by means of conductors 42 and 41 to the contact devices 39 and 40 for selectively operating the tongues l8 and [9 into alignment with the through conductors when desired. The operation for the system of Fig. 4 is substantially similar to that described in connection with the system shown in Fig. 3.

From the above description and the accompanying description and the accompanying draw-v ing, it will be apparent that I have provided in a simple and eifective manner for controlling the operation of trolley frogs in the intersection of through and branch conductors in an overheated trolley conductor system. By preselecting the principal path as the vehicle approaches the intersection, the number of operations of the trolley frogs is reduced to a minimum and the operating position of the tongues is made more certain. By preselecting the position of the trolley frog tongues as the vehicle approaches the intersecf a subsedii'ent.

tion, errors due to false operations of the tongues are minimized. Failure to select the proper path due to dewirements after the current collector has passed through the interse'ctionis prevented.

Since certain changes may be made in the above-described construction and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all the matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings" shall be considered as illustrative and "not in a limiting sense.

I claim as invention:

jll A switching systemcomprising, a pair of trolley frogs operable to guide the current colleotors of av'ehicle along a pair of through conductorso'r onto a pair of branch conductors," first circ'uit'me'aas including control means'positioned in advance of the trolley frogs operable to effect energization of the trolley frogs to operate them to a predetermined position, additional circuit means including only a single pair of contact members responsive to the relative longitudinal positioning of the current collectors corresponding to other than said position effective to operate the frogs to said other position, and switch means actuated by the frogs connected in circuit relation with said first circuit means to prevent energization of the frogs thereby to operate them to the predetermined position when they are already in said position.

2. A switching system for through and branch conductors comprising, a pair of trolley frogs each having a pair of operating windings for operating the frogs to different positions to guide current collectors along the through or branch conductors and auxiliary switch means operable to provide an open circuit in response to operation of the frog to one of said positions and a closed circuit in response to operation of the frog to said other position, circuit means including a contact member associated with one of the main conductors and said auxiliary switch means connected to provide an energizing circuit for the operating windings for operating said frogs to said one position only when said frogs are in the other position, and a single pair only of contact devices associated with the main conductors intermediate the frogs and the aforesaid contact member in such longitudinal relation that they only provide an energizing circuit for the other operating windings when the current collectors are longitudinally positioned in accordance with angular positioning of the vehicle to proceed in the other direction.

3. A switching system comprising, a pair of trolley frog having tongues movable to different positions and operating windings energizable to move them to guide a pair of current collectors either along a pair of through conductors or onto a pair of branch conductors, circuit means including a single contact device positioned adjacent only on of said main conductors ahead of the trolley frogs and connected by engagement with a current collector to effect energization of one operating winding of each frog to preset the frogs for guiding the collectors along the main conductors, and additional circuit means including only a single pair of longitudinally displaced contact devices so positioned as to be simultaneously engaged by the current collectors of a vehicle turning in the direction of the branch conductors connecting the other operating winding of the trolley frogs to select the branch direction.

4. A switching system comprising, a pair of positions to guide current collectors either along a pair of through conductors or onto a pair of branch conductors constituting a principal path and each having a pair of operating windings energizable to actuate the tongues to said different positions, switch means operable to the open position in response to movement of the tongues to the principal path, only a single contact means positioned adjacent only one of the through conductors ahead of the trolley frogs for engagement by one of the current collectors, circuit means including said contact means and the switch means disposed to connect one of the operating windin s of each trolley frog for automatically operating the tongues to guide the current collectors along the branch conductors, and additional circuit means including a single pair of contact devices disposed adjacent the through conductors in similar longitudinal relation intermediate the aforesaid contact means and the trolley frogs for engagement by the current collectors to connect the other operating windings to operate the tongues to direct the current collectors along the through conductors.

RAYMOND P. HANNA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Lewis Dec. 28, 1943 

